I think Kim was quite the natural in Season 1. She was a natural comedienne.

In some Season 2 and 3 episodes where she took on more serious roles, she over acted at times. See "Starstruck", "Growing Pains", "Sounds of Silence".

I think she was better at comedic roles for sure. She wasn’t bad in dramatic but she excelled more with comedic.

I think she was better at comedic roles for sure. She wasn’t bad in dramatic but she excelled more with comedic.

Totally. When Tootie and Natalie are doing their impressions of Justin Branch and Prototype Monica, they are hilarious. This was the type of role where Kim excelled.

But then they wanted Kim to do more dramatic roles. They didn't want Tootie to be the "little troublemaker" anymore. Sadly, that had been Kim's forte, and making her role more dramatic meant losing the best part of what had made Tootie work so well as a funny character.

Kim didn't overact in "Starstruck". The scene calls for her to be hysterical, and she was. Disturbingly so.

I'm sorry but I disagree. Tootie was supposed to be a little kid in season 1. Her sassy attitude was retained for the following season but, by the time season 3 debuted, Tootie was a teenager, the first episode centered on the fact that she was growing up, that she was no longer a little kid. She has been whiny on several occasions but she was a teenager and many teenagers believe to be more mature than they really are. After season 5, Tootie wasn't whiny anymore and had lots of funny lines

I do agree, the s3 premiere storyline was well done and showed her character growing up.

Outside of Molly and George, I think Kim has had the most consistent long term acting career of any body in the opening credits who were young when the show was produced. Of course Cloris and Charlotte had long storied careers.

Yeah, season 1 Tootie was my favorite. I didn’t like seasons 2-4 Tootie because she was just so darn annoying and childish. Seasons 5 and beyond got better though.

Kim's acting was good for the entire run of the show. In my opinion, she has the same personality in season 2, during the central seasons (I would say from 3 to 5) she was childish most of the time

Kim's acting was good for the entire run of the show. In my opinion, she has the same personality in season 2, during the central seasons (I would say from 3 to 5) she was childish most of the time

I agree, she’s similar in personality s2 minus the always wearing roller skates and saying there’s gonna be troubllllllle all the time

Kim's acting was good for the entire run of the show. In my opinion, she has the same personality in season 2, during the central seasons (I would say from 3 to 5) she was childish most of the time

I see hints of Tootie's "troublemaking" persona in Season 2's "Gossip". I see hints of her childish persona in Season 2's "Cousin Geri" ("does it hurt?"). So, it feels like there was a transition that season.

Kim's acting was good for the entire run of the show. In my opinion, she has the same personality in season 2, during the central seasons (I would say from 3 to 5) she was childish most of the time

Yeah, I don't think it's fair to generalize Tootie in seasons 2 - 4, firstly because season 2 Tootie was closer to season 1 Tootie.

It's only natural Tootie would become (occasionally) whiny and bratty at 13. She was the youngest growing up with older girls around. So it's true to character of the youngest of the bunch. But I don't think it's fair to say she was whiny and bratty for all of 3 and 4. She usually wasn't. "Dear Me" is one of my favorite Tooties of 3 and 4.

I agree, she’s similar in personality s2 minus the always wearing roller skates and saying there’s gonna be troubllllllle all the time

I see hints of Tootie's "troublemaking" persona in Season 2's "Gossip". I see hints of her childish persona in Season 2's "Cousin Geri" ("does it hurt?"). So, it feels like there was a transition that season.

Yeah, I don't think it's fair to generalize Tootie in seasons 2 - 4, firstly because season 2 Tootie was closer to season 1 Tootie.

It's only natural Tootie would become (occasionally) whiny and bratty at 13. She was the youngest growing up with older girls around. So it's true to character of the youngest of the bunch. But I don't think it's fair to say she was whiny and bratty for all of 3 and 4. She usually wasn't. "Dear Me" is one of my favorite Tooties of 3 and 4.


Thanks for your replies :wave:

I can't stand her in "Let's Party" and "Starstruck"

Thanks for your replies :wave:

I can't stand her in "Let's Party" and "Starstruck"

For me, it is more noticeable in the "Sound of Silence" episode.

For me, it is more noticeable in the "Sound of Silence" episode.

I don't think she was that bad in TSOS. In the two episodes I mentioned she was very immature :wave:

Kim way overacted in Sounds of Silence. It was an episode where one of the Lost Girls, Molly would have been a better fit.

Kim way overacted in Sounds of Silence. It was an episode where one of the Lost Girls, Molly would have been a better fit.

Yeah that wasn’t Kim’s best Ep imo.

Thanks for your replies :wave:

I can't stand her in "Let's Party" and "Starstruck"

I love those episodes! :lol:

I think she was better at comedic roles for sure. She wasn’t bad in dramatic but she excelled more with comedic.

Kim Fields was arguably, a terrible dramatic actress when it called for Tootie to "emote" (see: the episodes about Jermaine Jackson or Tootie's temporary deafness as examples). Her acting was probably of the worst 'child acting' variety, i.e. shouting her lines and indicating emotion. But she really was a good comedic actress for her age. As Eve Brandstein (casting director) said, she just knew how to deliver a line for laugh. Take for instance, the scene in the episode "The New Girl", when Tootie started in on Blair about first-person pronouns in the police station. "I" vs. "We".

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I don't think Nancy M. is a very good comedic actress.

Tootie in season 1 was adorable. In Season 2, Tootie still had her adorable moments, but moreso, we got to see more of a mature Tootie, losing a friend to death in Cynthia, getting in touch with her identity, becoming more “woke” if u will. Season 3 Tootie, in my opinion was growing into a teenager wanting to be more included and talking about boys. She grew each season. I do agree that she was sometimes whiny in season 4. In season 4, you could see that she really started to care about her friendships more.

Wow!! 1ˢᵗ I’ve heard that. Jo was funny as hell to me ��

No. I don't think she was better in Season 1. I think she was great in all the seasons. I like her better the older she got.

I would agree that Tootie had great comedic timing in season 1. She was still had the adorable factor in seasons 2 and 3. However, like someone else said, she was rather whiny in season 4 on several occasions. By the time season 5 came along, she became more adult, rightfully so, but still pretty funny at times.

In my opinion, Nancy was a great comedic actress. Jo was funny!!!!!😆